Gas generator



Jan. 25, 1938.

v. D. MCDONNELL 2,106,184

GAS GENERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 :I .To Std/"fer v In van 2 07 [51 v Vince? ,D. 7720170127264! A dgzys.

v. D. MODONNELL 2,106,184

GAS GENERATOR Jan. 25, 1938.

Filed May 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oooooc g Vince-r2 2 3D- 77261 0121261! 4;, d ziys.

Jan. 25, 1938.

V. D. M DONNELL GAS GENERATOR Filed May 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 'Vmcerzzfi. McDonnell Jan. 25, 1938. 5 v, D, MCD NELL 2,106,184

GAS GENERATOR Filed May 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fz'y 13 106 120 391 .119 49 121 a y 27 lrzz/erzzvr Vincent D. 77ZcD0mzeZZ {M Patented Jan. 25, 193

UNITED STATES PATENT oer-E GAS GENERATOR Vincent D. McDonnell, Chicago, Ill.

application May 21, 1934, Serial N0. 726,691

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to gas generators and particularly to a method, and portable apparatus, for producing a gaseous fuel from liquid crude or fuel oil. 1

5 The main obects of this invention are toprovide an improved method of producing methane or other combustible gas; to provide an improved gas generator that will convert liquid fuels into a fixed gas adapted to operate internal combusl0 tion engines or any'gas consuming device; to

provide in such a device a simple portable unitary structure adapted to be associated directly with the engine of a motor driven vehicle; to provide such a device in which the heat energy of primary combustion is utilized to support endothermic'reactions within the device and produce a fixed gas; to provide such a device arranged to automatically control the rate of gas production according to the demand of an associated gas consuming device; to provide such a device having an improved igniting means; to provide such a device having improved means for introducing automatically regulated quantities of water for vaporization and dissociation; and to provide in such a' device an'improved catalyzer for affecting the gaseous product.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view showing an end elevation of an improved gas generator.

\ Fig. 2 is a view showing a front elevation of same taken Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and showing a circuit breaker.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 6 and showing the igniting fluid supply device with the overflow plungenindepressed position to supply igniting fluid,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 6 and showing a fuel oil level control device.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line II-'-H of Fig. 3 and showing details of a water supply connection. I Fig. '12 is an enlarged sectional view: showin details of a coupling and valve arrangement.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a shutter arrangement for air and water vapor inlet ports. Y

Fig; 14- isan enlarged fragmentary view of the igniting fluid supply device showing an arrangement of contacts for primary ignition.

In the form shown in the drawings the .improved gas generator comprises a housing I arranged to provide a combustion chamber or space 2. A catalyzing chamber or space 3 located directly above and opening into the combustion chamber 2, and a fuel bowl 4 formed in the lower portion of the combustion chamber and adapted to hold a quantity of liquid fuel. The fuel bowl 4 is arranged to open directly into the combustion chamber 2 and a horizontally disposed rotatable drum 5 is positioned within the combustion chamber so that a portion of its surface extends into the fuel bowl 4 and below the surface of the liquid fuel held therein. The rotatable drum 5 is carried upon a shaft Saarid is preferably provided with an asbestos wicking I wound about its periphery and adapted to carry fuel from the bowl 4 into the combustion chamber 2 where the fuel is burned,

Disposed within the catalyzing chamber 3, which extends upwardly from the combustion chamber 2, is a catalyzer which comprises, in the present form, a plurality .of catalyzing plates or discs 8, and the gases produced by combustion in the chamber 2 pass over and between the plates 8 and out of the device through the outlet 9 lo- I,

-. provided by the side plate l0 which is bolted to the housing as shown in Fig. -l. Within the housin and defined by the bottom ll of the fuel bowl 4 and the wall I2 is a cooling jacket I 3 which extends .the length of the fuel bowl and includes the sides thereof as shown inFi'g. 5. A coolingmedi um such as water is circulated within the jacket l3 and it isthe function of this jacket to keep the fuel in the fuel bowl from boiling.

An air chamber or space I 4 is formed at the lower ,front side of the housing and extends the length thereof, being defined by the wall l2 of the cooling jacket and the front and bottom outer walls of the housing I. The air chamber I 4 extends upwardly along the front wall of the housing and communicates with an air passage 15 which extends horizontally across the front of the housing parallel to the axis of the drum 5, and which is provided with a series of ports l6 arranged in a horizontal row and opening into the combustion chamber 2 adjacent the periphery of the drum 5.

The air chamber I4 is normally under suction, I

as will be hereinafter explained, and air is intro duced therein through an intake opening ii in the bottom of the housing. A valve I 8, slidably mounted on a vertical stem l9, serves to close the opening. I! through coaction with a spider-like member 20 spanning the opening l1, and having an annular marginal rim which is engaged by the valve I8. The member 20 is secured to the bottom of the housing and carries the vertical stem i9 upon which the valve I8 is slidably mounted. The valve I8 is provided with a counter bored boss 21 through which the rod l9 passes, and within the counter bore is a helical spring 22 arranged to bear against the end of the counter bore and the hub of the member 20. 1 The spring 22 is designed to almost counter balance the weight of the valve l8 so that only aslight pressure differential between the chamber l4 and the atmosphere will cause the valve I3 to open and admit air into the housing.

The rear wall 23 of the housing casting is set forward of the rear end of the housing side walls and is provided with a plurality of integral trans-.

verse baflies 24 which are spaced apart vertically from adjacent the fuel bowl to the top of the housing. These baflles are all inclined downwardly, alternate baflies being downwardly inclined toward one side of the housing and the others toward the opposite side of the housing, and the lower end of each battle is terminated short; of the adjacent housing side wall so as to provide communication between successive spaces between the baflies. The bailles 24 are of a width equal to the amount that the rear wall is set forward of the rear ends of the side walls, and a coverplate 26, which extends over the entire area of the rear wall occupied by the baffles, is provided so that a continuous enclosed zig-zag passage 26, leading from the top of the housing to adjacent the fuel bowl, is formed between the cover plate 25 and the rear wall-23 of the housing. u Thezlg-zag. passage 26 serves the function of a water vaporizer, obtaining its heat from the combustion chamber 2 and the catalyzing cham-' her 3, and communicates through a passage 21 extending across one side of the housing, with. a steam distributing passage 28 which is locateddi- ,rectly above, .and extends parallel with, the air passage l5. Steam ports 29 connect the steam i. passage- 23with the combustion chamber 2 ad- Jacent the side of the drum 5, and are spaced of. each hub 30 being set back as at 34 to receive the respective boss 3|. The shaft. 6 extends through the carrying plate 32 and carries a';driving gear which is secured on the shaft between the carrying plate 32 and the end cover plate Ill.

The shaft carrying plates 32 and 33' are arranged to support the catalyzers as well as the drum 6 and for this purpose extend upwardly from .plate l0 and the carrying plate 32.

the combustion chamber and into the catalyzing chamber as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

The catalyzers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, preferably comprise the plates 8 which are flat discs having serratedjmargins as at 8.1, and these discs are spaced apartinehorizontal rows on the rotatable shafts 36 which are disposed parallel to each other within the catalyzing chamber 3. In the form shown the shafts 36 are hexagonal in section and pass through hexagonal central apertures in the discs 3 so that the discs are fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, the discs being spaced apart by spacer members 31 so as to prevent them from shifting axially on the shaft, and the discs on adjacent shafts are arranged with the discs of one shaft positioned opposite the spaces between the discs of the other shaft.

The shafts 36 are suitably journaled in the bosses 38 which are integral on the carrying plates 32 and 33, and are'spaced from each other so that the plates 8 of one shaft marginally overlap the plates of the next adjacent shaft. The diametertl eproperty of withstanding the extremely'high temperatures that are developed in the gases passing over them when the device is in operation, and it is preferable that the first two rowsfrom the bottom or entering end of the catalyzer be of a material such as carborundum and that the succeeding rows be of nickel steel or Invar steel, the shafts in each case being of nickel or Invar steel.

The catalyzer shafts 36 are arranged to extend through the bosses 38 of the carrying plate 32 and on their outer ends, between the plate 32 and the end wall l0, carry gears 39 by means of which they are rotated. The gears 39 are preferably of equal dimensions and are arranged to mesh with each other for mutual rotation. The lowermost gear 39 also mesheswith a pinion 40 carried on the inner end of a shaft 4| which is journaled in the boss 42 on the outside of the endplate I 0 and extends into the space between the end The pinion 40 is the inner driving gear for the drum and catalyzers and meshes with the gear 35 so that the shafts 6 and 36 are rotated simultaneously.

As shown in Figs; 3 and 6 the shaft carrying plates 32-and 33 are offset inwardly above the combustion chamber and the bosses in which the catalyzer shafts are journaled' are disposed on the outer side of the carrying plates. The plates 32 and. 33 are shaped to fit the fore and aft sec tional contour of the catalyzing and combustionchambers anii in this way serve to confine the gases and heat produced in the device to the ,space occupied by the catalyzing discs 8. Thus as a part of a secondary cover plate 44 which extends downwardly from the position of the shaft 4| and lies against the edge of an outwardly extending continuous wall integral on the end 'plate' [0 and projecting outwardly therefrom to Power is transmitted into gear box 43 by means v of a shaft 46 which extends through the gear box in a direction parallel to the front face of the housing I as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The shaft 46 is suitably journaled in the gearbox 43 and is drlvenby any suitable means by way of a flexible shaft or other suitable connection, not shown. This connection may be directly to some positive- 1y driven rotating element of a motor that may be driven by the gas produceddn the hereindescribed generator, which motor is also not shown.

Within the gear box 43 the shaft 46 carries a small pinion 41 which meshes with a spiral gear 58 carried on a shaft 49 suitably disposed and journaled within the gear housing. The shaft 49 also carries a. second spiral gear 50 which meshes with a driving gear 5i secured on the shaft M.

The gearing contained in the gear housing 53 is all properly proportioned to give the necessary speed reduction so that the rotating parts within the generator will be driven with a proper speed ratio relative to the'speed' of the driving motor.

The space between the secondary cover plate 44 and the end plate l0, and surrounded by the wall 45, is divided into two portions by a partition 52 as shown in Fig. 4. The lowermost portion 53 is shaped to provide an involute centrifugal pump housing within which is disposed a pump impeller 54 The pump impeller 54! is carried by a shaft 55 which extends through the secondary cover plate 45 and on which is mounted a pulley 56, the pulley 56 being driven by means of a belt 57 from a pulley 58 carried on the shaft 56 outside of the gear housing 43.

The intake 59 to the pump housing 53 is concentric with the shaft 55 and is connected to the water supply intake 60 by way of a passage formedon the outer surface of the plate 45 Jay a continuous outwardly projecting .wall integral on the plate 55 and a small closure plate 6|. The intake 60 is connected by means of a suitable hose or pipe to a cool water supply reservoir, not shown.

The discharge from the pump 54 is directed through a passageway leading from the pump housing 53 to an opening 62 through the end plate 80 and into the cooling jacket l3 at its lowermost point.

The shaft 55 supporting the pump impeller 55 extends through a gland 63 mounted on the closure plate 6i and its outer end, is carried in a bracket arm 65 suitably mounted on the secondary cover plate 16.

The cooling water circulated by the pump impeller 56 through the water jacket 13. is dischargedthrough an opening 55, in the end plate It, communicating with the cooling jacket l3 adjacent its upper most point, as shown in Fig. 4,

and this discharge opening 65 is connected by way of suitable hose or piping to the cooling water reservoir, which is not shown.

The remaining space 66 between the secondary cover plate it and the end plate 85 houses a sludge ejector 61 which comprises a chain riding on two vertically spaced sprockets 68 and 69. The bottom end of the space 66 communicates with the fuel bowl 4 'at its lowermost point by way of an aperture I0 through the end plate Ill and the top of tjn space 66 opens into a discharge chute II th from the apparatus. The discharge chute H is disposed above the level of the oil held in the fuel bowl 4 which prevents any loss of fuel and the sludge is carried from adjacent the aperture 10 to the opening H by means of small elevator blades 12 which are carried by the chain 61. The blades 12 are pivotally secured on the chain 61 and held in a proper position by means of suitable springs, not shown, which are arranged to permit backward pivotal movement of the blades 12 and to automatically return themto their The uppermost sprocket pinion 69 over which 3 the sludge ejector chain travels is carried on an extension of the shaft 6 and power is thereby supplied for operation of the ejector.

The oil supply to the fuel bowl 4 is controlled by a float box it mounted on the end of the housing l'opposite the removable end plate It] and communicating with the fuel bowl 4 by way of ugh which sludge is ejected an opening'l5 through the end wall of the housing l.

The float box M is shown in detail in Figure 10 and receives oil from a reservoir, not shown, through a connection '36 which enters at the top of the float box through a valve arrangement 11,

shown in detail in Fig. 12, mounted on a float box cover plate 18.

The valve arrangement 11 comprises a small port 79 which is opened and closed by a plunger 80 operated by a float arm 8! pivotally attached at one end to the cover plate 78, carrying a float 82 at its other end.

The opening 75 which leads from the float box 15 into the fuel bowl 4 is of sufficient proportion so that the normal level of the oil in the float box and the fuel bowl will be intermediate its top and bottom ends. level upward or downward, sufficient to properly operate the float 62 and valve l1, may be had without cutting off the flow of oil between the float box and the fuel bowl. This arrangement permits sudden variations of the quantity of fuel consumed in the combustion chamber and at the same time permits a sufficient drop in level so that the float valve may-operate to supply fuel from the reservoir through the connection l6 without any danger of the fuel level in the bowl 5 falling beyond a point where the wicking l on the drum 5 would be likely to run dry.

As shown in Figures 3 and 10, the float box is provided with a gauge glass 83 by means of which the level of the fuel in the float box and the fuel bowl can be readily observed.

The ignition means for the hereindescribed gas generator comprises a spark plug 85 disposed in.

the housing I so as to extend into the combustion Thus a variation of the oil chamber 2 and connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown.

The initial starting of the apparatus is preferably accomplished by means of a perforated ignition tube 85 which extends into the combustion chamber and along the upper surface of the drum 5. The spark plug 84 is disposed so that its points are located adjacent the tube 85 or preferably within the tube 85 and the tube is connected from the outside of the housing I to a supply of fuel having a low flash point, preferably gasoline, which, when supplied to the ignition, tube 85, is ignited by the spark plug and serves to ignite the fuel oil carried by the wicking I on the drum 5.

Gasoline or other suitable ignition fluid is sup-- plied to the ignition tube 85 bymeans of a float box 8Ii.suitably mounted on the same side of the housing I as the oil float box 18.

The float box 86 is shown in detail in Fig. 9 and comprises a chamber having a cover 81 which is provided with a float valve mechanism 88 having connection by way of a tube 09 with an ignition fluid reservoir, not shown. The float valve mechanism 88 is substantially the same as the above-described float valve mechanism 17 of the fuel oil float box and will, therefore, not be further described.

The ignition fluid float box 86 is arranged to I carry a supply of the ignition fluid at a predetermined level and the connection 90 which conducts the fluid to the ignition tube 85 is arranged to enter the float box 86 at a point just above the normal level of the fluid contained therein. The ignition fluidfis supplied to the connection 90 and thence to the ignition tube 85 by raising the level of the fluid and causing it to overflow from the float box 86 into the connection 90. Such overflow is brought about by forcing a plunger 9I having an enlarged head 3: below the normal level of the fluid in the float The plunger 9| is a U-shaped member, one

- leg of which extends through the cover 81 and carries the enlarged head 92, and the other leg of which extends through a suitable guide 93' on the outside of the float box, this other leg being connected by suitable means, not shown, to an actuating means such as a starter mechanism,

r also not shown.

on and insulated from the float casing 86. A

wire, not shown, leads from one of the contacts to the spark plug and another wire, not shown, leads from the other contact to a source of electrical energy, such as a spark coil.

The intermittent spark is provided by a breaker mechanism mounted on a-cover plate 96 which provides a closure for the gear housing 43. This breaker arrangement is shown in detail in Figure' 8, and comprises a, stationary contact 91 and a shiftable contact 98 which is spring actuated so as to be normally urged into engagement with the fixed contact 91.

The breaker is actuated by the squared end 99 of the shaft I which extends into the breaker housing, the squared end 99 being engaged by 2. lug or follower I carried by the shiftable arm of ,the contact 98. Thus as the shaft H is rotated, the shiftable contact 98is caused to intermittently engage the flxed contact 91 as the lug I00 rides on the cam surface formed by the squared end 99 of the shaft 4| and a circuit through suitable wiring, not shown, to the spark plug 84 is intermittently closed and opened as the apparatus operates. 7

As shown in Figure 6, the circuit breaker is surrounded by an outwardly projecting wall IOI integral on the cover plate 96, and is enclosed by smaller cover plate I02.

Water is supplied to the passage 26 of the water vaporizer by means of an intermittent feeder I03, mounted on the upper part of the housing I and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and Fig. 11. The feeder I03 comprises a float chamber having an inlet connection I04 at its top which is-connected to a suitable supply reservoir and controlled by a valve, not shown, actuated by a float I05. The feeder I03 comprises two sections; one section holds a supply of water and the other section, indicated by I06, communicates with the passageway 26 in the rear wall of the housing I by means of a connection I01. The connection I01 is preferably provided with a glass insert and arranged with sight apertures so that the passage of water therethrough may be observed.

The feeder section I 06 is separated from the portion holding the water supply by means of a to extend above the normal water level and water is carried or lifted over thev partition I08 by means of a paddle I09. carried on apivoted shaft H0. The shaft H0 is provided with a crank arm I I I to which is attached a downwardly extending rcd II2 which extends into a housing H3 enclosing a ratchet II and a pivoted pawl 5., The housing H3 is integral on the end plate I0 and is closed by a cover plate H6. The ratchet III is mounted on an extension of the uppermost catalyzer shaft 36 which projects through the end plate I0 and into the housing H3. Thus as the apparatus is operated and the shaft 36 rotated, the ratchet I I4 imparts a reciprocal movement to the pawl II5 which is transmitted to the rod II2, so as to actuate the paddle I09, the rod II2 being normally urged downwardly into contact with the pawl II5 by a spring I I6 attached to the crank arm II I.

As shown in Figures 4 and 11, the paddle I09 is adjustable transversely of the shaft IIO so that it may be caused to lift more or less water over the partition I08, the adjustment being secured by means of a set screw 1. Thus at each movement of the paddle, as caused by theratchet H4 through the push rod H2, a definite amount of water is lifted over the partition I08 into the portion I06 from which it passes through the passage I01 into the vaporizing passageway 26.

An arrangement forivarying the size of the air and steam openings 16 and 29 into the combustion chamber 2 is shown in' detail in Fig. 13 and .comprises a pair of slides or shutters H8 and H9 arranged to extend over the respective rows of apertures I6 and-29. Each of, the shutters III and I'IQ-isprovided with apertures I6.I and 2,9.I respectively spaced so that they may register with the apertures I6 and 2 9. The slides H8 and 9 are each carried on headed pins or screws I20 which extend through slots I2I in the slides and one endof each slide is arranged to bein thread- 2,106,184 I I s ed engagement with a respective adjusting screw I22 or I23 which extends through one end'of the housing I. Thus from the outside of the housing I the slides may be adjusted so as to vary the size of the air and steam openings l6 and 29 respectively and properly adjust the quantities of these mediums introduced into the combustion chamber.

The hereindescribed apparatus is also provided with an oil overflow connection communicating with the fuel bowl at a point just above the proper. level of the fuel that is to be carried therein. Such an overflow is provided to prevent flooding of the combustion chamber andis indicated by I24 in Figures 1 and 2.

The apparatus is also providedwith a safety valve I25 positioned at the top of the housing I, adjacent the gasoutlet 9. This safety valve, which is shown in "Figures 2 and 3, is provided as a vent for any explosion that might inadvertently occur in the catalyzing chamber.-

In the operation of my improved gas generating apparatus, fuel oil is supplied to the fuel bowl in the manner hereinbefore described and the apparatus started by applying power to the shaft 46. In an installation where the gas generator is employed in connection with an automobile enengine, power for the shaft 46 is preferably taken from some positively rotating element of the automobile motor and the apparatus is started by using the usual automobile starter for rotating the motor crank shaft and thus transmitting power to the shaft 46 of the generator. In such an installation, the overflow plunger shaft SI of the ignition fuel supply device is preferably connected by suitable levers or other means to the automobile starter so that as the starter is op erated, the shaft 9| is pulled downwardly to cause the gasoline or other ignition fluid to overflow from the float box 86 into the ignition'tube 85. Simultaneously, an electric oircuit is made through the contacts 94 and 95 whereby the spark plug 84 is caused to spark so as to ignite the fluid in the ignition tube 85 and the burning of this fluid will ignite the fuel oil that is carried on the periphery of the drum 5 by the wicking I.

Once combustion has started in the combustion chamber 2 of the generator, the production of gas is quite rapid, which gas is immediately sucked out of the generator through the outlet 8 and into the cylinders of the automobile motor by the action of the motor pistons. The suction on the combustion chamber of the generator produced by the intake suction of the driven motor provides a pressure differential between the air chamber l4and the atmosphere so that air is taken into the generator through the airport I1 at the bottom of the generator housing. The amount of air drawn into the generator is controlled by adjustment of the shutter or slide H8 which controls the size of 'theopenings l6 into the combustion chamber. U

At the same time, water having been fed into the vaporizing chamber by the feeder I03 upon the starting of.the apparatus, steam is rapidly produced in the vaporizing passageway 26 and such steam together with the air drawn into the air chamber l4 are introduced into the combustion chamber through the adjustable ports l6 and 29 where they promote proper combustion of the fuel oil therein to produce the gas.

In the preferred operation of the hereindescribed gas generator a,fixed gas is produced, which gas is particularly rich in methane and may be used as fuel in either ahot or cold condition. Also after proper scrubbing the gas may be stored in containers for future use. Thisgas is produced in thehereindescribed device, by vaporizing a liquid hydrocarbon and partially burning the vapor in a dampening'or smothering at.-

mosphere' of superheated steam to develop the 1 heat necessary to support a series of endothermic.

. reactions, starting at a relatively high temperature, within a mixture of the unburned hydrocarbon vapor, the products of combustion and the superheated steam, and in the presence of a suitable catalyzer; the constituents of the mixture reacting to produce methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and a small amount of carbon dioxide. A typical analysis of the gas-so produced is as follows: "T

Reduced to its simplest form, the new process or method in producing methane gas is the equivalent of burning a paraffin wax candle in an atmosphere of superheated steam with just enough air allowed to'come into the flame to keep up the heat of the reactions necessary to produce gas; the preferred condition being to cut the air supply far below that which is normally needed to support combustion and to conduct this insuflicient air to. the center of the flame so as to produce heat with such intensity at this central point that all hydrocarbons and carbon molecules are heated to the temperature of the superheated steam atmosphere in which the candle is burning. The superheatedsteam atmosphere is preferably held at a temperature above 1800 F. and below 2500 F.

At the wick of the hereindescribed gas generator the combustion is incomplete but suflicient heat is produced by a set of exothermic reactions to not only generate'and superheat the water vapor to a point that will allow the separation of the hydrogen from the oxygen but also to raise the whole gas stream to a degree that will allow. the completion of the reactions between the elements of the steam and those of the gaseous oil vapors by raising them .to a superheated state;

thus bringing about conditions that will cause theelements to recombine to form methane.

Substantially all of the heat generated within the device is passed along in thegas stream and j is utilized in the presence of the catalyzers in a series of endothermic reactions which are heat absorbing. This accounts for the fact that when the device is normally operating at temperatures as high as 2500 F. inside; the outer walls do not heat even to redness and the heat loss due to radiation is comparatively low.

The factor or condition set up in my improved process of gas production that serves to keep a balance between the exothermic reactions and the endothermic reactions by which the methane gas is produced is the rapid transfer of the gases and-vapors out of the oxidizing or burning .zone into the hydrogenizing zone where the heat is needed and absorbed in the formation of the new components. It is for this reason that the gases leave the generator at a reduced. temperature thatis found to be less than one-third that pro- 75 duced at the zone of combustion. The reactions not support combustion; but which environment.

does permit recombination througheentirely different reactions than would normally take place,

and results-in the formation of different end products having greater heating and power value.

These reactions, which are endothermic and take place in the presence of the catalyzers are very rapid and happen as explosions. Thus the two stages of reaction, that is the exothermic and endothermic, take place in a fraction of a second. These reactions are not the mere cracking up of heavier hydrocarbon vapors to lighter hydrocarbon vapors but are chemical reactions in which methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a small amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen are present as a gas mixture.

In my improved process, the desired products are formed in the presence of catalyzers which function to stabilize and fix the newly formed methane'laden gas before it passes out of the reacting zone so that it has no tendency to recombine with an oil vapor or scrubber, nor have any tendencyto condense into light oils. Thus the gas mixture produced by my process will remain as a fixed gas while in storage.

A gas thatis fixed has many advantages over gasoline vapor for use in internal combustion enginesand' one of the principal advantages is that at all'temperatures the gas is ready for mixture with fresh incoming air and the-colder the incoming air, the more of the gas is available for instant sparking; while with gasoline vapors the gasoline condenses or refuses to be picked up by the cold air and thus causes difficulty in starting in cold weather.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described,

it will be'understood that details of the method and construction illustrated may be modified or omitted without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

- 1. A gas generator comprising a housing arranged to provide a fuel bowl in its lower portion and a combustion space above said fuel bowl, a horizontally disposed rotatable drum positioned within said combustion space and arranged to extend into fuel held in said fuel bowl,

- means to rotate said drum, means to ignite fuel carried on said drum, a catalyzing chamber within said, housing communicating with said combustion space, catalyzing means in said catalyzing chamber, a tortuous passageway ,within a wall of said housing adjacent said catalyzing chamber and said combustion space, means to r introduce water into said passageway for vaporiv zationtherein, means communicating with said passageway and arranged to distribute the water vapors therefrom along one side of said drum, and means to introduce air into said.combustion chamber in predetermined quantities andat said one side of said drum. v

' in said combustion chamber arranged to extend 2. A gas generator comprising a housing arranged to provide a fuel bowl and a combustion space communicating with said fuel bowl, a catalyzing chamber communicating with said combustion space, means to produce combustion 5 of fuel from said fuel bowl in said combustion space, a tortuous passageway in a wall of said housing adjacent said combustion space, means arranged'to introduce predetermined quantitiesof water automatically and intermittently into said passageway for vaporization therein, and means communicating with said passageway to introduce the water vapors into said combustion space substantially at the center of the combustion therein.

3. A gas generator comprising 'a housing arranged to provide a fuel bowl and a combustion chamber, a rotatable drum disposed horizontally in said combustion chamber and arranged to extend into said fuel bowl, means to rotate said drum, meansto ignite fuel carried on the sur-. face of said drum, a tortuous passageway in a wall of said housing and adjacent said combustion chamber, a feeder arranged to supply predetermined quantities 401' water intermittently into said passageway, means, actuated by said means to rotate said drum arranged to control the operation of said feeder according to the speed, of rotation of said drum, and means t6 introduce vaporsfrom said passageway into said combustion chamber. a

. 4. A gas generator comprising a housing arranged to provide a combustion chamber having a fuel bowl in its lower portion, a rotatable drum into said fuel bowl, said drum being adapted to carry fuel from said fuel bowl into said combustion chamber, means to rotate said drum, means to ignite fuel carried on said drum, a passage in a wall of said housing extending substantially parallel with the axis of said drum and having a plurality of spaced ports communicating with said combustion chamber adjacent said drum on the side thereof normally emerging from said fuel bowl, means communicating with said passageofor providing water vapors thereto for introduction into said combustion chamber, an air passage adjacent and parallel with the first passage and having a row of spaced ports communicating with said combustionchamber,

and means to supply air to said air passage.

5. A gas generator comprising a housing arranged to provide a combustion chamber and a catalyzing chamber in communication with each other, means to produce partial combustion of a hydro-carbon fuel in said combustion chamber, means to introduce air and water vapors into said combustion chamber, an outlet from said catalyzing chamber for gases, 9. catalyzer disposed in said catalyzing chamber between said combustion chamber and said outlet, said catalyzer comprising .a plurality of parallel shafts each carrying a plurality of spaced catalyzing plates fixed transversely of the shaft axis, the plates on one shaft being positioned opposite the spaces between the plates -on an adjacent shaft and overlapping the-plates on said adjacent shaft, and means to rotate said shafts.

6. In a device of the class described, a catalyzer comprising a plurality of parallel rotatable shaft! 10 I each carrying a plurality of spaced catalyzing discs mounted thereon to rotate therewith and disposed transversely of the shaft axis, said shafts being disposed relative to each other so that the discs on one shaft are positioned opposite the spaces between the discs on an adjacent shaft and in marginal overlapping relationship therewith, and means to rotate said shafts.

'7. A gas generator comprising a housing arranged to provide a combustion chamber having a fuel bowl in its lower portion, a rotatable drum I sage in a wall of said housing extending substanti'ally parallel with the axis of said drum and having a plurality of spaced ports communicating with said combustion chamber adjacent said drum and on the side thereof normally emerging from said fuel bowl, means communicating with said passage for providing water vapors thereto for introduction into said combustion chamber, and means to introduce air into said combustion chamber adjacent said spaced ports. L

' VINC ENT D. MCDONNELL. 

